Question about extending holes in a dovetail bar

[Jose Urias]

Good evening HAL,

I am reaching out because I am not savy or have the tools to fix an issue with a dovetail bar I got for the Celestron C9.25.

I am including some pictures to illustrate better what the issue is, but basically, the kit comes with 2 pieces that raise the space to screw the bar in, and then the bar connects to the "raisers" through 2 screws. The problem is, the long horizontal hole where that screw would go and connect to the raisers is just 2-3mm shorter than it should be, so I cannot install the second screw.

I got this through a vendor in AlliExpress so it is shipped from China, and they are making it very complicated to send me another bar.

I wanted to know if anyone here knows a place where I could take this to extend that hole just 2-3mm more, or maybe someone here works with metals and has the tools to do it and would charge me to do the work.

I appreciate any help in advance!

[A. Michael Phipps]

Hey Jose,

I would try to use a Dremel tool and file it down to where you need it.  I have a tool we can try if you like.  

Let me kow

Mike

410 446 7564

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[johnjhudak]

Jose,

  Sorry to hear about the mis-fitting parts.  My father was a Tool and Die Maker many decades ago. I inherited his tools when he passed. The tools that have proven to be the most effective for fixing problems are his sets of "Needle Pattern" files. They are minuture files having various cross section shapes.  Looking at your photo I would just take one of the round files and file the slot in the aluminum dovetail bar the extra 2-3mm needed for the screw to pass through.

  Pattern files are worth their weight in gold and will last you a lifetime and get you out of many jams in the future. I suggest purchasing this set of files or something like it.  This set appears to include two round files and sells for $10.55 with free 2-3 day USPS delivery:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/293141920027?_skw=swiss+pattern+needle+files&itmmeta=01KT6WFBJWW8K9NYXSB8JZCEJ6&hash=item44409eb91b:g:M7UAAOSw-M5dHnI0&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAA4GfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xDQl6mds3fnXVCDZq0A4u7GutBEAoI6UmQqZHIMbukGKzjrGDKbylZAU8JdYkEkEo9ArlNmD0qD6SSahuU6bKcCicB3TxerHFBvFm%2FkjzLjUoyEj1oJUuloAUdPLwhpfOmcGvESj8wKGclSdW4L5f%2FC1RJYp3BR7D7nj%2BkEVN08dWOMrlPfPRvnDMl6RpXMOlkiIOxh07BQXh%2BX29Amz2mSTWjQyLnq7QxkqeNlCpFk3BL3lyhGId%2FoCPM%2FstULpWXjN8xw%2BxYrdsN0mIqrhXRU%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR9C5vdzRZw

Regards,

JOHN

On Tue, Jun 2, 2026 at 9:10 PM Jose Urias <juria...@gmail.com> wrote:

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